Status of natural regeneration in the denuded hills of Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Ahmed G. U., Newaz M. S., Temu A. B.
Author Affiliation: Institute of Forestry, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Commonwealth Forestry Review 71 : 178-182
Abstract : A study was conducted in 1989 to determine whether it was technically and economically feasible to achieve complete forest cover in the Hathazari Forest Range near the Chittagong University Campus using natural regeneration instead of tree planting. A comparative survey was carried out in an undisturbed natural forest in the area. It was inferred from the frequency of occurrence and heights of seedlings and saplings that with protection from cutting, grazing and fires, coupled with crop tending, a multistoried canopy could be attained initially with Stereospermum personatum, Albizia lebbeck, Ficus roxburghii and Holarrhena antidysenterica [H. pubescens] dominating on midslopes and hilltops, and Mangifera indica, Albizia chinensis and A. lebbeck in valleys. The involvement of local people in protection, cleaning and possible enrichment planting activities and the introduction of agroforestry activities in the valleys, with the emphasis on horticultural crops, is proposed.